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Football

Pants! Bendtner fined Sh10.71m for celebration

WARSAW, Poland, June 18 – Denmark’s Nicklas Bendtner was on Monday banned for one match and fined 100,000 euros (80,000 pounds $126,000) for flashing the sponsored waistband of his underpants while celebrating a goal during Euro 2012, UEFA said.

European football’s governing body said that its Control and Disciplinary Body had decided to imposed the fine and suspend the Sunderland player for “one competitive fixture” after the celebration during last Wednesday’s match against Portugal.

“This suspension applies to the next 2014 FIFA World Cup match, including the qualifying competition, for which Bendtner is eligible,” a statement said on the UEFA website.

Bendnter has three days from the written receipt of the sanction to appeal.

UEFA last week announced disciplinary proceedings against the player for “improper conduct (Law 4 of the Laws of the Game)” during the Group B game in Lviv, Ukraine, that Denmark lost 3-2.

Law 4, which covers “The players’ equipment” states: “Players must not reveal undershirts which contain slogans or advertising. A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans will be sanctioned by the competition organiser.

Article 18.18 of the “Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2010-12” also states: “All kit items worn during the final tournament must be free of any sponsor advertising.”

The waistband of Bendtner’s green and white underwear had the name of a Dublin-based online betting firm. The company, Paddy Power, said on its website that they were “lucky pants”.

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